Toymaster and The Sports Shop on Regent Street in Shanklin, which has traded in the town for some 65 years, is to close.
It has been confirmed that the store – which sold a widely varied range of products including sporting goods, school uniforms and toys – will soon be shutting its doors, with all stock currently being moved to their sister premises on Union Street in Ryde.
Established in 1955, the shop also used to occupy a space across the road from its current location but that was vacated a few years ago.
Island Echo reported last year that the owners were looking to downsize the present shop by converting part of the ground-floor retail space into a residential flat, but now they are leaving Shanklin altogether.
Most of the toys and sporting goods have already gone and Island Echo understands that, at present, only the uniform shop is still open. However, this too will soon move to Ryde.
It is not yet known what will now occupy the building but it is understood that, subject to contract, the premises will be occupied and will not remain vacant for long.
Toymaster has been contacted for comment.
Very Sad,Goodbye Shanklin Sports & Model Shop.
And Thank You
Another nail in the coffin of Isle of Wight town centres. God bless her and all who sailed in her.
Likely another HMO, to house druggy, alcoholic women molesters as seen on here recently.
Such is the ruination of our society as jails are too full from those from elsewhere to ever again jail our own growing low life for meaningful terms, AND they know it.
Hence society grows ever worse.
Toys replaced by Methadone, dope and Cider cans, all paid for by us.
You are such a pessimist.! There are more good people than bad in the world.
I think you need to get out more. I think you’ll find the mainland – especialli big towns and cities are a lot worse than our lovely Island.
Atm, it is growing rapidly worse every year, and whilst the UK mainland is even worse, where enrichment has happened on a larger scale, the beautiful Island is still becoming more unpleasant each year even if it ‘never’ catches up with ‘over there’
There are people you can talk with to get things off your chest.
Very sad. Gone are the good old days of going in to get your new school uniform and PE kit.
I hate to say it but I don’t think the Ryde one is doing much better. Went in there last summer and there was a huge lack of stock and what they did have was noticeably spaced out as much as possible obviously just to make the shelves look full. Such a shame as I have very fond memories of both these shops
It’s exactly the same now unfortunately. Very little stock and doesn’t look like they want to restock. Seems like only a matter of time before this shop goes too.
Sad story.
It’s not just online they are competing with, it is the plague that is ‘Screens’. Tap, tap, tap all day long.
A lot of my pocket money went there in the 60’s , very fond memory’s, good luck with the Ryde venture.,
I personally would have thought that the Regent Street store would be
much busier than Union Street store in Ryde.
A very sad day for Shanklin.
It was a shame when Dredges went and Bailey’s went.
I suppose another Vape or charity shop will pop up.
Sadly the saying use it or lose it springs to mind.
More likely flats with ‘very’ non locals stood in doorways on phones doing ‘deals’ such is the fate of many a high street now. Still ‘they’ are grateful…….aren’t they?
Every easter I took a Watford FC under 13s squad in the sports section, a lady from New Zealand , Gaynor, always helped us and became a good friend.
Store be sadly missed.